Game apparatus.



No. 818,126. PATENTED M1117, 1906. q

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED DE0.11.1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application led December 11, 1905. Serial No. 291,269.

To all whom it may concer-1t.

Be it known that I, FREDERICK SIEDER, av citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GameApparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in gameapparatus; and the invention has for its primary object to provide agame apparatus requiring considerable skill, at the same time affordingamusement to the participants in the game.

Another object of this invention is to provide a game which will beeXtremelysimple in construction, strong and durable, and efficient inamusing the juvenile class, as well as affording entertainment for olderpersons.

Briefly described, my improved game can be played by any number ofpersons, the persons participating in the game being divided into twosides, each side appointing or selecting a captain, who directs themovement of his side. The game is intended to represent a battlefield,where two forces are drawn up against one another, the forces beingrepresented by a plurality of men or objects, which are shielded byother objects termed breastworks.7 The forces are placed in position andare shielded by breastworks according to the captains strategy andexperience in playing the game. Miniature cannons or firing devices areemployed which propel balls toward the forces in the field, the objectof each side being to knock down as many men or objects as possible,first one side firing and then the opponent.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a board or plat used inplaying the game, and in the several views of the drawings like numeralsof reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,in whichFA Figure 1 is a plan of the board or plat. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view taken on the line at a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa fragmentary sectional view taken on the line fj y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa fragmentary cross-sectional view of the board or plat. Fig. 5 is asectional view of a lid.

To put my invention into practice, I construct a board or plat 1, whichis substantially rectangular in plan, and the edges of said board areprovided with walls 2. The

board or plat 1 may be painted or printed to represent a battle-field orthe like and centrally of the board the same is marked, as at 3, toindicate a dividing-line between the two forces or men employed inplaying the game. In one corner of the board-for instance, the upperleft-hand corner-I construct a flring or shooting device 4, while in thediametrically opposed corner, as in the lower righthand corner of theboard, I construct a similar firing or shooting device 5. Each deviceconsists of a rectangular casing 6, the top of which is provided with alongitudinally-disposed slot 7. Slidably mounted in each casing is ablock 8, carrying a knob 9, which protrudes through the slot 7 of thecasing. The front end of the casing is open, while the rear end of thecasing is closed by the side wall of the board or plat, and interposedbetween the wall and the block 8 is a coiled spring 10, which normallyholds the block 8 at the forward and open end of the casing.

In connection with the board or plat and the firing or shooting devicejust described adjustable blocks 11 11 are employed, together with menor players 12 and 14. The adjustable blocks 11 in the game are termeddeiiectors or sighting-blocks, and each block is provided with a knob15, whereby it it can be easily moved, and with a beveled face 16, theobject of which will be presently described.

The men or players 12 and 14 are preferably twelve in number, and theymay be of any desired configuration corresponding to the type of gamebeing played. Balls or spherical bodies 17 17 are also employed inconnection with the pieces just described.

A suitable lid 18 may be employed for covering the plat or board and itsappurtenant parts, the lid fitting down over the sides 2 of the board orplat 1. Upon the underneath face of the lid may be printed thedirections for playing the game.

In connection with the shooting device and deflectors above describedpieces 19 are employed which in the game are termed breastworks. Thesepieces are positioned among the men or players in order to protect thesame from the spherical bodies 17.

As heretofore stated, a game of war may be readily played with myimproved board or chart, and the directions for such a game are asfollows: The persons participating in the game are divided into twosides or forces and each side selects siX of the men or play- IOO ers 12and 14, the players or men of one side being of a different color fromthe opposite side or force or the saine end being accomplished bysuitably designating the men 12 and 14 whereby the forces may be easilydistinguished from one another. These men or players of the war game maybe termed "soldiers. Each side or force selects one of the firing orshooting devices, together with a ball 17, one of the blocks 11, knownas the deflectors, and two breastworks-pieces. The captain of the sideor force positions the block 11 to the best advantage, whereby the faceof the block 11 will deflect the ball 17 when shot from the `liringdevice and will annihilate or knock down the opposing force or side ofplayers. The captain of the side or force directs the iiring of the ball17, this being accomplished by moving the block 8 rearwardly in thecasing 6 and permitting the recoil of the spring 10 to propel the ball17 forward against the block 11. First one side or force shoots at theopposing force, and then the opposite side, until one side or the otherhas annihilated its opposing side. The side or force having firstknocked down its opposing men or soldiers wins the game or battle.

It is obvious that various types of games may be played with my improvedboard or plat and its appurtenant parts, such as a foot-ball game or anygame where two sides oppose one another.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that considerableskill is attached to the game in the person of the captain properlypositioning the blocks 11 to deflect the balls 17 at a proper angle toknock down the men or players, and the marks or indications upon theboard or plat are adapted to facilitate the sides in properly arrangingthe men or players, the preferable arrangement being staggered, asclearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The main elements of my invention can be readily made of wood, decoratedto conform to the type of game being played, it being obvious that whena war game is in vogue the board will be painted or printed to representa battle-held, while the men or players will represent soldiers havingdifferent uniforms to distinguish the two forces of the battle.

Such changes in the construction and manner of playing my improved gameas are permissible by the appended claims may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What l claim, and desire to secure by Letl y ters Patent, is-

1. A game apparatus embodying a board or plat having side walls7 a lidadapted to t upon said side walls, spring-actuated shooting devicesmounted in the diagonally opposed corners of the board or plat andadapted to propel balls toward the center of the board, blocksadjustably mounted upon said board and adapted to deiiect said ballstoward the center of said board, breastworkpieces mounted upon saidboard, players adapted to be stood in the center of said board to beknocked down by said balls, substantially as described.

2. A game apparatus embodying a board or plat, spring actuated shootingdevices mounted upon said board and adapted to propel balls toward thecenter of said board, deflector-blocks adjustably mounted upon saidboard, players mounted in the center of said board and adapted to beknocked down by the balls of the shooting device, means to shield saidplayers, and means to inclose said board and its appurtenant parts,substantially as described.

3. A game apparatus embodying a board or plat, shooting devices carriedby said board or plat and adapted to propel balls toward the center ofsaid board, movable deiiectorblocks mounted upon said board7 playersmounted centrally of said board, means carried by said board to indicatethe position of said players, substantially as described.

4. A game apparatus embodying a board or plat, shooting devices carriedby said board or plat, and adapted to propel balls toward the center ofsaid board, independently-movable deflector blocks mounted upon saidboard, and players mounted centrally of said board.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRED SIEDER.

Witnesses ED. SIEDER, MARY SIEDER.

